My Search for Spiritual Answers

Swami Prakashanand Saraswati imparts the deepest spiritual wisdom of India

Satsang with Swami Prakashanand Saraswati is always a joyous experience

My entire adult life I had an interest in eastern religion and meditation. But I hadn't found satisfaction. I was still looking.

It was 1989 and I was on a business trip in Philadelphia. I heard that there was a great Master from India who was speaking at a local ashram. I went to an evening satsang at the ashram. After a chanting meditation I remember Shree Swamiji came down the stairs that entered into the prayer room and I recall that I felt that a beautiful presence had entered into the room. It was Shree Swamiji, otherwise known as His Divinity Swami Prakashanand Saraswati, founder of Barsana Dham in Austin. That beautiful feeling I experienced stayed with me and was a turning point in my life as I never felt anything so tender and sweet before. I had many questions that I wanted to have answered and Swamiji answered all of them in his speech without me asking the questions out loud. In fact, after his speech I was so dead set on asking my questions that I asked them anyway.

My first direct interaction with Swamiji was him telling me that if I had listened to his speech I would have heard that he already answered all my questions. I appreciated his directness. It kind of snapped me out of my intellectual superiority.

Kindness and compassion: Swami Prakashanand Saraswati waving goodnight to devotees

I did not want to leave, so I spent the night at the ashram. Everyone was so casual and informal that nobody even bothered to tell me there was satsang in the morning. To this day I remember how the chanting penetrated into my heart and I felt that sweet sweet feeling again as I awoke in my bed.

Later that morning I left to go to a business meeting to meet my associate. I was so excited about meeting Shree Swamiji that I remember telling my associate about my experience as we went into the meeting. After the meeting I took him back to the center where Swamiji so graciously took time to meet with both of us.

Although I was extremely drawn to Swamiji and the path of bhakti yoga, I had a lot of spiritual confusions as a result of many years of listening to unclear and vague explanations of Hindu religion and yoga philosophy. At times my inner confusion and conflict was quite strong. But my desire to see Swamiji and experience this beautiful path was stronger than my confusion. I would often tell Swamiji how confused I was and he would always advise me to relax, not worry and take my time.

During that two year period that followed I had the privilege of doing some service for Swamiji and his Divine mission. Those were some of the greatest moments of my life. After about two years my confusion and questions started to quieten down.

I think I probably asked more questions of Swamiji than any other person he came in contact with. What was great is that he never let me feel that he minded. He was always patient, kind and direct with his answers. When my spiritual questions started to be resolved, I realized to some extent that I wanted to devote my life to this path. With Swamiji's help I realized I wanted to try to attain the Divine love of Radha and Krishn in this lifetime. With God's extraordinary Grace I have been able to do my daily spiritual practice and increase my love and relationship with God and be in Swamiji's service for the past thirteen years. My sincere wish is for anyone who wishes to experience the sweet and loving Divine Grace of God, start by reading one of the many books Shree Swamiji has written. The words will resolve your confusions and with any luck, you too could meet Shree Swamiji.

Shree Swamiji at a glance

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